Shimla, Nov 17
A clash between two Hindu groups in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, resulted in injuries to seven individuals, including three police personal. The incident occurred on Saturday evening, at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, located within the premises of the Himalayan Brahmo Samaj near Vidhan Sabha.
The dispute arose when a group of over 100 people, primarily elderly women associated with the Brahmo Samaj, entered the ashram to perform religious rituals. While the group intended to continue their prayers into the night, the ashram authorities, citing security concerns and the need to close the premises, objected.
Tensions escalated as the two groups engaged in a verbal altercation, which eventually turned physical. The situation further deteriorated when some individuals from the Ramakrishna Mission allegedly began throwing stones, injuring several people, including police officers.
The police have registered two FIRs against seven individuals, including prominent figures from the Hindu nationalist organization ABVP. The FIRs have been registered under sections 132 (assault against public servant discharging their duty), 121 (causing hurt to public servant), 221 (obstruction), 191 (unlawful assembly), 194 (2) (public fight disturbing peace) and 196 (2) (offence at place of worship) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the police said.
According to Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, the issue was sensitive due to the involvement of religious sentiments. Police and administration were present at the scene to mediate and resolve the matter peacefully. However, the situation escalated when the Brahmo Samaj followers, after completing their prayers, were allegedly attacked by a group from the Ramakrishna Mission.
Also read Tension mounts over property dispute between Brahmo Samaj and Ramakrishna Mission in Shimla shrine
Swami Tanmahimanand, secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram alleged that the property was handed over to the ashram by the Brahmo Samaj for religious purposes and that the mission has been residing there since 2014.
Tanmahimanand said on Saturday (November 16, 2024), their gardner, who also looks after the ashram premises, and some union leaders held a conference in Kali Bari temple. Thereafter, they entered the ashram as devotees and performed puja, heard pravachan and when at 8:30 p.m. they wished to close the ashram, members of the Himalayan Brahmo Samaj raised slogans of ‘Jai Brahmo, this is our temple and you have occupied it’ and refused to vacate, he said. “Everyone has the right to perform puja but no one has the right to take possession of the ashram and our demand is that the people of Himalayan Brahmo Samaj should vacate the temple [ashram]”, he added.
Swami Ram Rupanand, co-secretary of the ashram said that an attempt was made to forcefully take possession of the temple and alleged that the administration and police remained a mute spectator to the incident. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.
M R Sagroli, Trustee of the Himalayan Brahmo Samaj, Shimla, stated that a two-day Brahmo Samaj conference was being held in the city and that their members from across the country wished to visit the temple (ashram). He emphasized that the issue was not major and that the Brahmo Samaj members should be allowed access to the premises.
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